Method for the simultaneous amplification of multiple sequences in a PCR reaction and marking thereof

ABSTRACT

A method is described for the amplification of nucleic acids, in which the segments to be amplified are first hybridized with at least two primer oligonucleotides that have two domains, wherein the sequence-specific domain found at the 3-end hybridizes to the segment to be amplified, while the generic domain found at the 5-end does not hybridize. Then an amplification reaction is conducted by means of a polymerase and subsequently a labeled primer oligonucleotide, which binds to the generic domain of the first primer, is hybridized to the amplificate which is formed. In the last step, the sequence of the amplificate is investigated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to the particularly rational production of complex, labeled amplificates in a PCR reaction. The sequences of these amplificates can subsequently be investigated by means of the most varied methods. The method is particularly suitable for the analysis of cytosine methylation patterns in DNA samples.

PRIOR ART

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method by means of which, in principle, any DNA can be selectively amplified. This method comprises the use of a set of at most two oligonucleotides with predefined sequence, so-called primers, which hybridize to DNA strands that are complementary to them and define the boundaries of the sequence to be amplified.

The oligonucleotides initiate the DNA synthesis, which is catalyzed by a heat-stable DNA polymerase. Each round of synthesis is typically separated by a melting and re-annealing step. This technique permits amplification of a given DNA sequence by several hundred times in less than one hour.

PCR has gained a wide acceptance due to the simplicity and reproducibility of these reactions. For example, PCR is used for the diagnosis of hereditary malfunctions and when such diseases are suspected.

Often, however, an amplification of a given sample is also conducted simply to propagate the material for a subsequent investigation. The sample to be investigated is first amplified in this case, either starting from genomic DNA, or, e.g., isolated mRNA. For the most part, it is necessary to label at least one of the primers, e.g., with a fluorescent substance, in order to be able to identify the fragment in subsequent experiments.

The method of using primers that have two domains represents a particularly simple and cost-effective variant for introducing a label onto the amplificates. One of these domains hybridizes specifically to the region to be amplified, while the other only has the function of hybridizing with a labeled oligonucleotide. This [labeled] oligonucleotide can always be the same one for the most varied amplifications, if the same primer domain responsible for the label is always used. This is a cost-effective solution, particularly for expensive labels. For example, three different oligonucleotides are utilized for this reaction:

a sequence-specific forward primer with an M13(−21) tail, a sequence-specific reverse primer, and a universal fluorescently labeled M13 (−21) oligonucleotide (Schuelke et al., An economic method for the fluorescent labeling of PCR fragments 2: 18, 2000), which binds to the M13(−21) tail of the forward primer.

This amplified DNA is utilized for the identification of mutations and polymorphisms. The following analytical methods are used for this: e.g., the primer extension reaction, sequencing according to Sanger, or, e.g., restriction digestion and subsequent investigation on agarose gels, for example.

For the investigation of DNA via the investigation of the base sequence, frequently the ratio of the DNA bases cytosine to 5-methylcytosine is drawn on, or individual cytosine positions are investigated for methylation.

5-Methylcytosine is the most frequent covalently modified base in the DNA of eukaryotic cells. For example, it plays a role in the regulation of transcription, in genetic imprinting and in tumorigenesis. The identification of 5-methylcytosine as a component of genetic information is thus of considerable interest. 5-Methylcytosine positions, however, cannot be identified by sequencing, since 5-methylcytosine has the same base-pairing behavior as cytosine. In addition, in the case of a PCR amplification, the epigenetic information which is borne by the 5-methylcytosines is completely lost.

A relatively new method that in the meantime has become the most widely used method for investigating DNA for 5-methylcytosine is based on the specific reaction of bisulfite with cytosine, which, after subsequent alkaline hydrolysis, is then converted to uracil, which corresponds in its base-pairing behavior to thymidine. In contrast, 5-methylcytosine is not modified under these conditions. Thus, the original DNA is converted so that methylcytosine, which originally cannot be distinguished from cytosine by its hybridization behavior, can now be detected by “standard” molecular biology techniques as the only remaining cytosine, for example, by amplification and hybridization or sequencing. All of these techniques are based on base pairing, which is now fully utilized. The prior art, which concerns sensitivity, is defined by a method that incorporates the DNA to be investigated in an agarose matrix, so that the diffusion and renaturation of the DNA is prevented (bisulfite reacts only on single-stranded DNA) and all precipitation and purification steps are replaced by rapid dialysis (Olek A, Oswald J, Walter J. A modified and improved method for bisulphite based cytosine methylation analysis. Nucleic Acids Res. Dec. 15, 1996; 24(24): 5064-6). Individual cells can be investigated by this method, which illustrates the potential of the method. Of course, up until now, only individual regions of up to approximately 3000 base pairs long have been investigated; a global investigation of cells for thousands of possible methylation analyses is not possible. Of course, this method also cannot reliably analyze very small fragments of small quantities of sample. These are lost despite the protection from diffusion through the matrix.

An overview of other known possibilities for detecting 5-methylcytosines can be derived from the following review article: Rein T, DePamphilis M L, Zorbas H. Identifying 5-methylcytosine and related modifications in DNA genomes. Nucleic Acids Res. May 15, 1998; 26(10): 2255-64.

The bisulfite technique has been previously applied only in research, with a few exceptions (e.g., Zeschnigk M, Lich C, Buiting K, Doerfler W, Horsthemke B. A single-tube PCR test for the diagnosis of Angelman and Prader-Willi syndrome based an allelic methylation differences at the SNRPN locus. Eur J Hum Genet 1997 March-April; 5(2):94-8). However, short, specific segments of a known gene have always been amplified after a bisulfite treatment and either completely sequenced (Olek A, Walter J. The pre-implantation ontogeny of the H19 methylation imprint. Nat Genet. 1997 November; 17(3): 275-6) or individual cytosine positions have been detected by a “primer extension reaction” (Gonzalgo M L, Jones P A. Rapid quantitation of methylation differences at specific sites using methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension (Ms-SNuPE). Nucleic Acids Res. Jun. 15, 1997; 25(12): 2529-31, WO-Patent 95-00669) or an enzyme step (Xiong Z, Laird P W. COBRA: a sensitive and quantitative DNA methylation assay. Nucleic Acids Res. Jun. 15, 1997; 25(12): 2532-4). Detection by hybridization has also been described (Olek et al., WO-A 99-28498).

Other publications which are concerned with the application of the bisulfite technique for the detection of methylation in the case of individual genes are: Grigg G, Clark S. Sequencing 5-methylcytosine residues in genomic DNA. Bioessays. 1994 June; 16(6): 431-6, 431; Zeschnigk M, Schmitz B, Dittrich B, Buiting K, Horsthemke B, Doerfier W. Imprinted segments in the human genome: different DNA methylation patterns in the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome region as determined by the genomic sequencing method. Hum Mol Genet. 1997 March; 6(3): 387-95; Feil R, Charlton J, Bird A P, Walter J, Reik W. Methylation analysis on individual chromosomes: improved protocol for bisulphite genomic sequencing. Nucleic Acids Res. Feb. 25, 1994; 22(4): 695-6; Martin V, Ribieras S, Song-Wang X, Rio M C, Dante R. Genomic sequencing indicates a correlation between DNA hypomethylation in the 5′ region of the pS2 gene and in its expression in human breast cancer cell lines. Gene. May 19, 1995; 157(1-2): 261-4; WO 97-46705, WO 95-15373 and WO 45560.

To analyze PCR products, they must be provided, e.g., with a fluorescent label or a radioactive label. These labels can be introduced either on the primers or on the nucleotides. Particularly suitable for fluorescent labels is the simple introduction of Cy3 and Cy5 dyes at the 5′-end of the respective primer. The following are also considered as fluorescent dyes: 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM), hexachloro-6-carboxyfluorescein (HEX), 6-carboxy-x-rhodamine (ROX) or tetrachloro-6-carboxyfluorescein (TET). These dyes are, however, comparatively more expensive.

For the analysis of genes, in which the mutated allele or the polymorphism is well characterized, the amplification of individual defined regions of the DNA is sometimes sufficient. However, if undefined genes are analyzed, for the most part a plurality of PCR reactions are necessary in order to identify critical deletions or changes of bases. Even more complicated is the establishment of a multiplex PCR, in which a forward primer and a plurality of reverse primers are used, in order to amplify defined gene segments.

Whereas the annealing temperature and the primer concentration can be calculated to a certain extent, the conditions for each individual multiplex reaction must generally be determined experimentally. Since the probability of a nonspecific initial reaction increases with each additional primer, for the most part, the conditions must be modified for further primer additions. Also, the artifacts which arise due to the competition for resources are multiplied, e.g., by the [number of] primers in the multiplex PCR. This results in the circumstance that yields of unequally amplified fragments increase with each cycle.

Due to the difficulties discussed above, the development of a new diagnostic test can be labor- and cost-intensive.

Weighardt et al. (PCR Methods and App. 3:77, 1993) describe the use of 5′-extended oligonucleotides for PCR. This amplification method contains as its characteristic feature a separate annealing and primer extension reaction for each individual primer, which cannot be carried out in a multiplex context.

As pointed out, it is currently state of the art to treat the sample DNA with bisulfite and then to conduct simple amplifications in order to identify cytosine methylation. A method is lacking, however, which permits conducting, by means of primers with two domains, a particularly specific two-step amplification, which most specifically prepares a plurality of fragments simultaneously and also which solves the problem whereby normally a plurality of labeled and correspondingly expensive primers would have to be utilized for such a complex amplification.

PRESENTATION OF THE PROBLEM

A method will be provided, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. First, a very specific 2-step PCR with high multiplexing capacity will be provided, which also solves the problem of cost-intensive labels. The method will be particularly suitable for the detection of cytosine methylation in DNA samples.

DESCRIPTION

A method is described for the amplification of nucleic acids.

The nucleic acids are most preferably obtained from a genomic DNA sample, whereby the sources for DNA include, e.g., cell lines, blood, sputum, stool, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue embedded in paraffin, for example, tissue from eyes, intestine, kidney, brain, heart, prostate, lung, breast or liver, histological slides and all possible combinations thereof.

The nucleic acid sample is most preferably embedded in agarose and reacted with a bisulfite solution (=disulfite, hydrogen sulfite), whereby 5-methylcytosine remains unchanged and cytosine is converted to uracil or another base similar to uracil in its base-pairing behavior. In this chemical treatment, a reagent that denatures the DNA duplex and/or a radical trap are [also] present.

Since in the human genome, only approximately 3% of the cytosine bases are present in the methylated state, bisulfite-treated DNA for the most part contains the bases A, G, T and U; that is, only 3 bases (A, G and T) with respect to their base-pairing behavior, since U and T show the same pairing behavior.

Then the segments to amplified are hybridized with at least two primer oligonucleotides, which have two domains: the sequence-specific domain found on the 3′-end hybridizes to the segment to be amplified, while the generic domain found on the 5′-end does not hybridize. In the next step, a first amplification reaction is conducted by means of a polymerase. In a further step, a labeled primer oligonucleotide, which hybridizes to the generic domain of the first primer, hybridizes to the amplificate. A second amplification with a polymerase [chain] reaction is preferably conducted.

A heat-stable DNA polymerase is most preferably used for the amplification.

If bisulfite-treated DNA is amplified, this DNA fragments are produced, which are characterized in that the (+)-strand has the base composition A, T and G, and its inversely complementary (−)-strand has the base composition A, T and C. It therefore results that the C and G nucleobases are never or very seldom present simultaneously in the (+)- or (−)-strand. Due to this property of bisulfite-treated DNA and its amplification products, it is possible to prepare primers, which do not produce nonspecific PCR products with bisulfite template DNA and thus can be used as generally applicable labeling oligonucleotides or detection probes for PCR amplificates of bisulfite-treated DNA.

The prerequisite for this is that gene-specific primers of types 1 and 2 are designed for the amplification of bisulfite-treated DNA, which [primers] possess a generic domain in addition to a gene-specific domain. These generic primer domains make possible the labeling of the DNA fragments with the generally applicable oligonucleotide labels (type M1 and type M2) or their detection with these general oligonucleotide labels (type M1 and type M2) due to hybridization behavior. For the amplification of specific genes or several genes in a multiplex PCR, at least 2 primers are necessary, one primer of type 1 and the second of type 2 (see below). The corresponding DNA fragments are amplified with these primers.

Structure and Properties of the Primers

Primer type 1: generic domain                                                    gene-specific domain 5′----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3′ contains A, T, C, G                                               contains A, T, G Primer type 2: generic domain                                                    gene-specific domain 5′----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3′ contains A, T, C, G                                               contains A, T, C Primer Type M1:

Sequence identical to generic domain of the type 1 primer

Mod-5′------------------------------------------------------------------------------3′ contains A, T, C, G, Mod. Modification or label Primer Type M2:

Sequence identical to complementary sequence of the generic domain of the type 2 primer

Mod-5′------------------------------------------------------------------------------3′ contains A, T, C, G, Mod. Modification or label

The generic domain of the type 1 and type 2 primers preferably contains a sequence which is comprised of A, C, G and T.

As the name suggests, the gene-specific domains are specific for one or more gene fragment(s). In the case of sequence-specific primers of type 1, the sequence is comprised of A, T, and G bases, and in the case of sequence-specific primers of type 2, it is comprised of A, T, and C bases.

In a second PCR reaction with a generic primer pair of the M1 and M2 type, these genes or an arbitrary number of genes that are formed from PCR reactions with primer pairs (type 1 and type 2) are simultaneously reamplified, whereby all type 1 primers and the type 2 primers possess identical generic domains (Examples 2 and 3). The generic domains of the type 1 and 2 primers are designed in such a way that the corresponding generic primer labels (type M1 and type M2) produce almost no nonspecific PCR product in a PCR reaction with the bisulfite template DNA that is used. The PCR reactions can be conducted sequentially or, due to suitable selection of the gene-specific and generic primers, as well as conducting the PCRs, they can be conducted simultaneously in a so-called one-pot reaction.

Due to their hybridization behavior, generic primers of the M1 and M2 type can also be used for the detection of PCR amplificates, which were produced with type 1 and type 2 primers and then, for example, were immobilized on DNA arrays, nitrocellulose membranes, PVDF membranes or other solid surfaces.

The amplified segments which have been formed from PCR fragments with primers having two domains can be immobilized on solid phases. This is done by chemical reactions (e.g., by introducing a 5′-amino function) or by hybridization to other oligonucleotides immobilized on the solid phase. The amplificates can thus be dectected by the labeled generic primers of the M1/M2 type. The labels that are introduced on the amplificates at each position of the solid phase at which an oligonucleotide is found can preferably be identified.

If PNA oligomers of the M1 and M22 [sic] type are used as the generic primers, however, instead of DNA oligomers, PCR amplificates, which are produced with type 1 and type 2 primers, can also be identified and quantified by MALDI-TOF.

The labels of oligonucleotide primers preferably involve fluorescent dyes with different emission spectra (e.g., Cy3, Cy5, FAM, HEX, TET or ROX) or fluorescent dye combinations in the case of primers labeled by energy-transfer fluorescent dye. The labels can preferably be radionuclides or preferably removable mass labels, which are detected in a mass spectrometer. Molecules, which only produce a signal in a further chemical reaction, may also be preferably used for labeling. The molecules used for the labels are preferably bound to defined positions on a solid phase, in order to immobilize the PCR products, which result from a PCR reaction and domain primers, via a solid-phase PCR.

The PCR fragments are preferably arranged on the solid phase in the form of a rectangular or hexagonal grid.

Lastly, the sequence of the amplificate is investigated.

The described DNA modification is produced by the use of identical primer pairs with an identical fragment-specific modification, i.e., all labels are identical and result in the same specific reaction. By means of these simplifications, considerable costs can be saved, since dye or mass labels, in particular, involve high costs.

The method is preferably used for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of adverse events for patients or individuals, whereby these adverse events belong to at least one of the following categories: undesired drug interactions; cancer diseases; CNS malfunctions, damage or disease; symptoms of aggression or behavioral disturbances; clinical, psychological and social consequences of brain damage; psychotic disturbances and personality disorders; dementia and/or associated syndromes; cardiovascular disease, malfunction and damage; malfunction, damage or disease of the gastrointestinal tract; malfunction, damage or disease of the respiratory system; lesion, inflammation, infection, immunity and/or convalescence; malfunction, damage or disease of the body as the consequence of an abnormality in the development process; malfunction, damage or disorder of the skin, the muscles, the connective tissue or the bones, endocrine and metabolic malfunction damage or disease; headaches or sexual malfunction.

The method is most preferably used for distinguishing cell types or tissues or for investigating cell differentiation.

The following examples explain the invention:

EXAMPLE 1 Design and Construction of Gene-Specific and Modular Primers

The sequences present after a bisulfite treatment were determined for each of the genes OAT (ACCESSION ep30056) and MDR1 (ACCESSION X58723). Based on these chemically pretreated DNA sequences (see Appendix), the following gene-specific primer domains were prepared and investigated with commercially obtainable analytical software, in order to exclude self-complementary or inter-complementary sequence regions in the primer sequences (see Tables 1 and 2). These sequences were converted to non-modular PCR primers OAT-fp, OAT-rp, MDR-fp and MDR-rp, and tested for their function in PCR reactions. With their use in PCR reactions (see Example 2) with bisulfite DNA, produced according to published methods (Olek et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 1996, 24, 5064-5066), the primer combinations for OAT and MDR1 supplied the expected products of 479 nt and 633 nt (see Table 1). As the sequence for the generic primer domains, gen1-f, corresponding to the sequence of the M13 universal sequencing primer and gen2-f (Table 2), as well as gen-r corresponding to the reverse M13 sequencing primer were selected. The corresponding non-modular primers based on these sequences showed no recognizable PCR products in the PCR reaction on bisulfite DNA under various reaction conditions, for the primer pair combinations gen1-fp, gen-rp, as well as gen2-fp, gen-rp.

The modular primers for the amplification of OAT and MDR1 gene regions are produced the fusion of the generic sequences with the corresponding gene-specific domains, in order to obtain the modular primers OAT-F1mp, OAT-f2mp, OAT-rmp, MDR-f1mp, MDR-f2mp and MDR-rmp (Table 3).

TABLE 1 Gene-specific and generic primer domains Gene Forward primer Reverse primer PCR fragment OAT OAT-f OAT-r 479 nt MDR1 MDR-f MDR-r 633 nt Generic gen1-f gen-r gen2-f

TABLE 2 Non-modular primer sequences OAT-fp TTTGGAGGTGGATTTAGAGGTATAAATTAA OAT-rp AAACRTCACTACAACTTAAAAACTAA MDR-fp TAAGTATGTTGAAGAAAGATTATTGTAG MDR-rp TAAAACTATCCCATAATAACTCCCAAC gen1-fp GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT gen2-rp GTAAAACCAGGGCCAGT gen-rp CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC gen1-fp5 Cy5-GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT gen2-rp5 Cy5-GTAAAACCAGGGCCAGT gen-rp5 Cy5-CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC

TABLE 3 Modular primers Sequence Name Generic domain - Gene-specific domain OAT-f1mp GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT-TTGGAGGTGGATTTAGAGGTATAATTAA OAT-f2mp GTAAAACCAGGGCCAGT-TTGGAGGTGGATTTAGAGGTATAATTAA OAT-rmp CAGGAACAGCTATGAC-AAACRTCACTACAACTTAAAAACTAA NDR-f1mp GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT-TAAGTATGTTGAAGAAAGATTATTGTAG MDR-f2mp GTAAAACCAGGGCCAGT-TAAGTATGTTGAAGAAAGATTATTGTAG MDR-rmp CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC-TAAAAACTATCCCATAATAACTCCCAAC

EXAMPLE 2 Gene-Specific Amplification of OAT and MDR1 with Modular Primers

The amplification of OAT and MDR1 gene regions was conducted with Qiagen Hotstart Polymerase according to the manufacturer's instructions (Qiagen, Hilden) in a reaction volume of 20 μl.

Reaction batch (general) Bisulfite DNA (10 ng) 1 μl Reaction buffer 10x (Qiagen, Hilden) 2 μl dNTP mix (10 mM each) 2 μl Primer 1 6.25 pmol 2 μl Primer 2 6.25 pmol 2 μl Polymerase (Qiagen, Hilden) (0.5 U) 0.5 μl Water 11.5 μl

The PCR reaction was conducted in the Master Cycler Gradient (Eppendorf, Hamburg) with the following program.

Program:

15 min 96° C.

× 40 10 min 72° C.

The primer combinations and annealing temperatures used for the amplification of OAT and MDR1 are compiled in Table 4. The PCR amplificates produced were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis (1.5% agarose in 0.5×TBE buffer, Manniatis et al.). For this purpose, 4 μl of the PCR batch were subjected to gel electrophoresis and the result is shown in FIG. 1.

TABLE 4 PCR Primer Combinations Gene Primer 1 Primer 2 Annealing temp. Lane in FIG. 1 OAT OAT-f1mp OAT-rmp 55, 6° C. A OAT OAT-f2mp OAT-rmp 55, 6° C. B MDR1 MDR-f1mp MDR-rmp 59° C. C MDR1 MDR-f2mp MDR-rmp 59° C. D [type, paste]

EXAMPLE 3 Reamplification of OAT and MDR1 with Generic Primers

The reamplification (=label amplification) of OAT and MDR1 gene regions was conducted with Qiagen Hotstart Polymerase according to the manufacturer's instructions (Qiagen, Hilden) in a reaction volume of 20 μl. The PCR products from the gene-specific PCR (see Example 2, FIG. 1) were diluted 1:1000 and amplified separately or jointly in a PCR reaction. The following were used as primers: the primer pairs gen1-fp5 and gen-rp5, as well as gen2-fp5 and gen-rp5 modified at the 3′-end with the fluorescent dye, Cy5. The results of this label amplification are shown in FIG. 2.

Reaction batch (general): Template DNA 1 μl Reaction buffer 10x (Qiagen, Hilden) 2 μl dNTP mix (10 mM each) 2 μl Primer pair (6.25 pmol per primer) 4 μl Polymerase (Qiagen, Hilden) (0.5 U) 0.5 μl Water 11.5 μl

The PCR reaction was conducted in the Master Cycler Gradient (Eppendorf, Hamburg) with the following program.

15 min 96° C.

× 40 10 min 72° C.

The PCR amplificates produced were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis (1.5% agarose in 0.5×TBE buffer, Manniatis et al.). For this purpose, 4 ul of the PCR batch were subjected to gel electrophoresis and the result is shown in FIG. 2. Under the indicated conditions, both OAT und MDR1 could be amplified successfully with the two generic primer pairs and thus are simultaneously and identically modified in a PCR reaction.

EXAMPLE 4 Reamplification with a Domain Primer

The bisulfite sequence was replaced by ESR1. The following gene-specific primer domains were prepared on the basis of this DNA sequence (see the ESR1-PCR product below), and investigated with commercially obtainable analytical software, in order to exclude self-complementary or inter-complementary sequence regions in the primer sequences (see Table 5). These sequences were converted into modular PCR primers ER1-B-U-M13a, ER1-B-L-M13b, ER1-B-U-M13b, ER1-B-L-M13a as well as the non-modular PCR primers ER1-B-U, ER1-B-L and tested for their function in PCR reactions. The modular primers for the amplification of ESR1 gene regions are produced by the fusion of the generic sequences M13a and M13b with the gene-specific domains ER1-B-U and ER1-B-L (Table 5). The primer combinations ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M13a, ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1B-L-M13a, ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b and ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L, when used in the PCR reactions (see FIG. 3, lanes 1-4) with bisulfite-treated DNA, supplied the expected products of 699 nt (modular primer) and 665 nt (non-modular primer). In contrast, no PCR products were obtained, if chemically untreated DNA was utilized in the PCR reaction (see FIG. 3, lanes 5-8). The PCR reaction batch had the following composition:

DNA (10 ng) 1 μl Reaction buffer 10x (Qiagen, Hilden) 2.5 μl dNTP mix (25 mM each) 0.2 μl Primer 1 12.5 pmol 1 μl Primer 2 12.5 pmol 1 μl Polymerase (Qiagen, Hilden) (0.5 U) 0.2 μl Water 19.1 μl and was conducted with the following cycling program: 15 min 96° C.; 60 s 96° C. (×40); 45 s 55° C. (×40); 75 s 72° C. (×40); 10 min 72° C. Table 5: Gene-Specific, Modular and Generic Primers for the Amplification of ESR1

Name Sequence A ER1-B-U-M13a GTAAAACGACGGCCAGTAGGAGGGGGAATTAAA TAGA B ER1-B-L-M13b CAGGAAACAGCTATGACACAATAAAACCATCCC AAATAC C ER1-B-U-M13b CAGGAAACAGCTATGACAGGAGGGGGAATTAAA TAGA D ER1-B-L-M13a GTAAAACGACGGCCAGTACAATAAAACCATCCC AAATAC E ER1-B-U AGGAGGGGGAATTAAATAGA F ER1-B-L ACAATAAAACCATCCCAAATAC G M13a GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT H M13b CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC

The PCR products produced with the primer combinations ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M13a, ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-L-M13a, ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b and ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L (see FIG. 3) were reamplified with Qiagen Hotstart Polymerase according to the manufacturer's instructions (Qiagen, Hilden) in a reaction volume of 25 μl with the primers M13a or M13b or a mixture of these primers. In this way, the PCR products from the PCR reaction (see FIG. 3) were diluted 1:1000 and amplified in the following PCR reactions.

Reaction Batch (General):

With the Use of One Primer

DNA (1:1000 diluted PCR fragment) 1 μl Reaction buffer 10x (Qiagen, Hilden) 2.5 μl dNTP mix (25 mM each) 0.2 μl Primer 12.5 pmol/μl 2 μl Polymerase (Qiagen, Hilden) (0.5 U) 0.2 μl Water 19.1 μl With the Use of a Pair of Primers

DNA (1:1000 diluted PCR fragment) 1 μl Reaction buffer 10x (Qiagen, Hilden) 2.5 μl dNTP mix (25 mM each) 0.2 μl Primer 1 12.5 pmol/μl 2 μl Primer 2 12.5 pmol/μl 1 μl Polymerase (Qiagen, Hilden) (0.5 U) 0.2 μl Water 19.1 μl

The PCR reaction was conducted in the Master Cycler Gradient (Eppendorf, Hamburg) with the following program: 15 min 96° C.; 60 s 96° C. (×40); 45 s 55° C. (×40); 75 s 72° C. (×40); 10 min 72° C.

The reamplification supplied the expected results (see FIG. 4). With the mixture of the generic primers M13a/M13b, the PCR products of the primer combinations ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M13a, ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-LM13a and ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b could be reamplified. The reamplifications of the PCR produts of the primer combinations ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-L-M13a could also be conducted with the primer M13a, and those of the primer combinations ER1-B-LM13b/ER1-B-U-M13b with the primer M13b. The PCR product which was obtained with the non-modular primer combination ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L, could not be reamplified, as expected, with generic primers or a combination of the primers M13a/M13b (see FIG. 4: Analysis of the ESR1 PCR products in a 1.5% agarose gel (Manniatis et al.).

FIG. 3: Four microliters each from the PCR reactions of primer combination ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M-13a (lanes 1, 5), ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-L-M13a (lanes 2, 6), ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b (lanes 3, 7) and ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L (lanes 4, 8) on bisulfite-treated DNA (lanes 1-4) and untreated genomic DNA (lanes 5-8) were analyzed. Lane M is a DNA fragment size standard.

AGGAGGGGGAATTAAATAGAAAGAGAGATAAATAGAGATATATCGGAGTT TGGTACGGGGTATATAAGGTAGTATATTAGAGAAAGTCGGTTTTTGGATT CGTTTTTCGCGTTTATTTTAAGTTTAGTTTTTTTTGGGTTATTTTTAGTA GATTTTCGTGCGTTTTCGTTTTTTGGTCGTGAAATTTAGTTTTTATTTAG TAGCGACGATAAGTAAAGTAAAGTTTAGGGAAGTTGTTTTTTGGGATGTT TAAATCGAGTTGTGTTTGGAGTGATGTTTAAGTTAATGTTAGGGTAAGGT AATAGTTTTTGGTCGTTTTTTAGTATTTTTGTAATGTATATGAGTTCGGG AGATTAGTATTTAAAGTTGGAGGTTCGGGAGTTTAGGAGTTGGCGGAGGG CGTTCGTTTTGGGATTGTAT1TGTTTTCGTCGGGTCGTTCGGTTTTATCG GATTCGTAGGTTTTCGGGGTAGGGTCGGGGTTAGAGTTCGCGTGTCGGCG GGATATGCGTTGCGTCGTTTTTAATTTCGGGTTGTGTTTTTTTTTTAGGT GGTTCGTCGGTTTTTGAGTTTTTTGTTTTG)CGGGGATACGGTTTGTATT TTGTTCGCGGTTACGGATTATGATTATGATTTTTTATATTAAAGTATTTG GGATGGTTTTATTGT

FIG. 4: Analysis of the reamplification of the ESR1 PCR products (see FIG. 4) in a 1.5% agarose gel (Manniatis et al.). The reamplification of the PCR products was investigated for the primer combinations ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L (lanes 2, 7, 12), ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M13a (lanes 3, 8, 13), ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-L-M13a (lanes 4, 8, 14) and ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b (lanes 5, 10, 15) with generic primers and primer combinations. Each time, 4 μl from the PCR reactions with the generic primer combination M13a/M13b (lanes 1-5), the generic primer M13a (lanes 6-10) and the generic primer M13b (lanes 11-15) are represented. Lane M is a DNA fragment size standard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Gene-specific amplification of OAT and MDR1.

-   -   M, Size marker,     -   A, Amplification of OAT (primers: OAT-f1mp and OAT-rmp),     -   B, Amplification of OAT (primers: OAT-f2mp and OAT-rmp),     -   C, Amplification of MDR1 (primers: MDR-f1mp and MDR-rmp), and     -   D, Amplification of MDR1 (primers: MDR-f2mp and MDR-rmp).

FIG. 2: Reamplification of OAT/Mdr1-fragments from Example 2 with generic primers

-   -   M, Size marker,     -   A, MDR1 with primers gen1-fp5 and gen-rp;     -   B, OAT with primers gen1-fp5 and gen-rp;     -   C, MDR1 and OAT with primers gen1-fp5 and gen-rp;     -   D, MDR1 and OAT with primers gen2-fp5 and gen-rp.

FIG. 3: Four microliters each from the PCR reactions of primer combination ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-L-M-13a (lanes 1, 5), ER1-B-U-M13a/ER1-B-L-M13a (lanes 2, 6), ER1-B-L-M13b/ER1-B-U-M13b (lanes 3, 7) and ER1-B-U/ER1-B-L (lanes 4, 8) on bisulfite-treated DNA (lanes 1-4) and untreated genomic DNA (lanes 5-8) were analyzed. Lane M is a DNA fragment size standard.

FIG. 4: Analysis of the reamplification of the ESR1 PCR products (see FIG. 4) in a 1.5% agarose gel (Manniatis et al.).

APPENDIX Sequences of OAT and MDR1 After Treatment with Bisulfite

Mdr1 (SEQ ID NO: 24):    0 GTTAAGAATA AAATATATTA AGATAAGGAA  AATTTGTAGT TAAGAATAGA AAAAAATTAT   60 GGTTTTGAAG TATGAGTTAT TTAAAGAAAG  TGGAAATATT TTTAGATTAT GTAGTAAAAA  120 ATAAAGTGAT TTTTTTTTTT TAAATTTATG  TAATAAATTG ATAGGTAATA TGTGAAAGTT  190 ATAGAATGTA GATTAGAGGA TATAATAAAT  TTATTTTTTT TATGTTTATA AGAAGTAAGA  240 AAAGTTTTGA TGTGAGTTAG TATTGTTTTA  TAATTTTGAA TTGTGTAGAT TGTACGTATT  300 TTTTTTTAGT TTGAAGTAAA TAGTGGATAG  GAAAAAATAT TAAATGTTGG TAGTAAATAT  360 GGAAGGAAAT TATAATTAAT GTAATATGTT  AAAATATGTT ATGTTTATTT TATTAATTTG  420 AATTAAAATG TAAGAATTTA AAATGTTTTG  GAAAAATACG GGTATTGATT TGACGTTTGA  480 AGTTTTAAAA TATTATATAT TTTGAAATAG  TATTTGTATT TTGAAATATT TGTTTTTATA  540 TATTTTTTAA AATTTTTTTT TTTTTTTATT  TTATTTATTA TTAAATAAAG GATGAATAGA  600 TGTAATTTAG AAATTGTTAA GTATGTTGAA  GAAAGATTAT TGTAGAAAAA TTTTTTTTAG  660 TTTTTTTAAA GGTGTTAGGA AGTAGAAAGG  TGATATAGAA TTGGAGAGGT CGGAGTTTTT  720 GTATTAATTG TATTAAATGC GAATTTCGAG  AAAATTTTTT TTAATTACGT TTTGTAGTTA  780 TATGGATATG AAGATTTATG TGAATTTTGA  AAGACGTGTT TATATAAGTT GAAATGTTTT  840 TAATGATTTA GTTGATGCGC GTTTTTTTAT  TTGTTTTTTT TAGAGAGGTG TAACGGAAGT  900 TAGAATATTT TTTTTGGAAA TTTAATTTGT  TTCGTAGTTT TTCGAGGAAT TAGTATTTAG  960 TTAATTCGGG TCGGGAGTAG TTATTTGTGG  TGAGGTTGAT TGGTTGGGTA GGAATAGCGT 1020 CGGGGCGTGG GTTGAGTATA GTCGTTTCGT  TTTTTTTGTT ATAGGAAGTT TGAGTTTATT 1080 CGAGTAGCGG TTTTTTTAAG TTTAAAGAAG  TAGAGGTCGT TGTTCGTTTT TTTTAGGTTT 1140 TTTTATTAAA GTCGGAGTAT TTTTTTTTAA  AATTTTACGT TTTGGTGGTC GTTTTAAGGA 1200  GCGCGAGGTA GGGGTACGTA AAGTTGGGAG  TTATTATGGG ATAGTTTTTA AGTGTTAGGT 1260 TTTTAGATTT TTTGAATTTG GTTTTTACGG  GAGAAGGGTT TTTTGAGGCG TGGATAGTGT 1320 GAAGTTTTTT GGTAAGTTTA TGGGGATTAA  GTGGGGTTAG ATTTAGATTT AGGAGTTTTT 1380 GGAGTAGCGT TTAAATCGTA GTGGTATTGG  ATTATGTTGT TCGGAGCGCG TATAGTTCGC 1440 GCGGTGCGGG GATTTGTTTT TTGAGTTCGC  GGGCGGTGGG TGGGAGGAAG TATCGTTCGC 1500 GGCGATTGGA ATCGGGAGGG AGAATCGTAT  TGGCGGCGGG TAAAGTTTAG AACGCGTTGT 1560 TAGATTTTTA ATTTTGTTTT CGTGGAGATG  TTGGAGATTT CGCGTATAGG AAAGTTTTTG 1620 TAGTGTTTAT CGCGGTTAGA GTAGTTGGGG  TATTAACGGC GGGCGTTTTT TTTTATTGTT 1680 TTTTGGTTTC GACGGGGGAT TAGAGGTTAG  TTTTATTTTT AGCGCGTTTG AGGTTTATGT 1740 ATTTGGTTAA TGAGTTGCGG TTTTTTTTTA  GGTCGGGATG GATTTTGAAG GGGATCGTAA 1800 TGGAGGAGTA AAGAAGAAGA ATTTTTTTAA  ATTGAATAAT AAAAGGTAAT TAGTTTGTTT 1860 TATTTTTATA GTTTATATAG TTGCGAGATT  TGAGTAATTT ATTTTTAGTT TTTAGTTTTG 1920 AAATAAATGA TATGTTGTTG TTTTTAATTA  TTTTTAAGAA ACGTAAGTTA GTTTTTGGAA 1980 TTAATATTTT TGTTTAGAGT AGAAGTTTGT  TGGTTGAGTG GAGTATAGTA TATGTATTTT 2040 TTTTGTTTTT TTTGTTTTTT TTTTTAATGA  TATATAATAT TTTATATATT TATGAAATGG 2100 GGTATATGGA AGCGTTTTTT ATATGTTCGG  AATGTGTAAT GATTAAGTTC GGGTATTTGA 2160 AGGATATATT ATTTTAGGTA TATTTTATTT  TTATGTGTTG ATAATATTTT AAGTTTTTTA 2220 GTTATTTTGA AATATATAAT ATATTGTTAA  TTGTAGTTAT TTTCGTTTGT TATCGAATAT 2280 TGGAATTTAT TTGTTTTATT TAATCGTTTT  TAGTTATTTA TTAATTTTTT TTTATTTTAT 2340 TTTTTTATTT TTTTCGGTTT TTTTTTTTTA  GTTTTGGTGT GTTTTTTTTT TAGTTTTTTT 2400 GTTTTAGATA GGCGGATGTT TATATGTGTT  TTTGTTTTAT GAATTTTTGT TTTTTAAGTG 2460 GTGTTGGTCG TTTATACGTG AGTTATATGT  TGTTGGTGAT TTGTTTTGTG GTTTAGGTTT 2520 TTGTTTTCGG TAAATGGTTA TGTAAATATC  GCGTTTGTGG TTTGGTTGAT GAGATAGAAG 2580 GTTAAAAGTA TATTTAGGTT GTTAATTGGT  AATAAATATT TGTATATAAT ATTGGTAATG 2640 TAATTATATA GGGAAAATAA TTATTTAAAG  TAAATTTTGA TTATGGTGTT TTGTTTTTAT 2700 AGAATATTTA AAATTTTATT AAATAGATTT  ATTGTTAGTA GTAAATTGTA AAATAGATTA 2760 GTAAGTTTAA TAATATTAGA AATTGTAATG  TAAATTATAA GATAAATTAG TTAAATATAT 2820 TAATATTATA AGAAATTAAG TTTTTTAGTG  TAAGAGAAAA AATATAAATG TGGAAATTAA 2880 ATATATTTTT AAAAATAATG TTAAGTTTGA  ATTAGAAATT TTAATATGAA TT

OAT (SEQ ID NO 25):   1 GGTAGCGACG ATTTTTGGAG GTGGATTTAG  AGGTATAATT AAGTCGCGCG GCGTATTAGG  61 GTTTAAGGGT ATGGGGTTTT CGTAGTTGTG  GTTGGGGTAG AGTTGGGGTT GTTTTTTTTT 121 TTAGGAGTAT AGGCGGCGGT TTAGTTTTAC  GTTTTTCGTT TTTAGTTATA TTCGGTTCGC 181 GTAGTGGGGG GTTTAATAGA TTTTTTTTTT  TCGGGTTTTA GTTTTTTCGT TAGTAAGGGC 241 GGATAAGGAT TTTTTTCGTT TCGTTAGAGG  AGGCGATCGA GGGGTTTGAG TTTAGGTATA 301 GGTCGGCGGG TTTAGGAGGC GCGAGGCGGA  TCGAATTCGC GGGAGGAGTA AAGATTTTTG 361 ATGCGCGGTC GGAGGGCGGG GCGGAGGACG  GGATTTACGC GATTGGTATT TTGTTTTTCG 421 TTTTAGTTAA TGAGCGGCGA GGGTGTTTTG  GGGGCGGGGT AGAATTAGTT TTTAAGTTGT 481 AGTGACGTTT CGGCGTTATT GTTGCGTTTT  ATAGACGTCG CGTGTATTCG GTTGTTTTTA 541 GGCGTTGTTA GGTATCGTTT GGGCGTCGTT  GTTTTGGGGT TTTGGTTCGG GTTTGGTCGG 601 AAACGTCACT ACAACTTAAA AACTAA 

1. A method for the amplification of nucleic acids, said method consisting of the following steps: a) a nucleic acid is chemically converted with a reagent, whereby 5-methylcytosine remains unchanged and cytosine is converted to uracil or another base similar to uracil in its base-pairing behavior, b) the segments to be amplified of the converted nucleic acid are hybridized with at least two first primer oligonucleotides, which have two domains: the sequence-specific domain found on the 3′-end hybridizes to the segment to be analyzed, while the generic domain found on the 5′-end does not hybridize, c) a first amplification reaction is conducted by means of a polymerase, d) two second primer oligonucleotides which hybridize to the generic domains of the first primer oligonucleotides and hybridize to the amplificate generated in step (c), wherein one of said two second primer oligonucleotides is labeled, and e) the sequence of the amplificate is investigated.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that after step c) of claim 1, a second amplification with a polymerase chain reaction is additionally conducted.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the generic domain of the primers contains the nucleobases A, C, G and T, while the sequence-specific domain contains either only the bases A, T and C or only the bases A, T and G.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the reagent involves a bisulfite.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further characterized in that the chemical treatment is conducted after embedding the nucleic acid in agarose.
 6. The method according to claim 4, further characterized in that in the chemical treatment, a reagent that denatures a duplex nucleic acid and/or a radical trap are added.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the labeling of oligonucleotide primers involves fluorescent dyes with different emission spectra or fluorescent dye combinations in the case of primers labeled by energy-transfer fluorescent dye.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the labels are radionuclides.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the labels are removable mass labels which are detected in a mass spectrometer.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that molecules that only produce a signal in a further chemical reaction are used for the label.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that molecules which are immobilized at defined positions on a solid phase are used for the label.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the PCR fragments are arranged on a solid phase in the form of a rectangular or hexagonal grid.
 13. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that labels that are introduced on the amplificates at each position of the solid phase at which an oligonucleotide sequence is found can be identified.
 14. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that a heat-stable DNA polymerase is used for the amplification.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nucleic acids were obtained from a genomic DNA sample, whereby sources for DNA include, e.g., cell lines, blood, sputum, stool, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue embedded in paraffin, for example, tissue from eyes, intestine, kidney, brain, heart, prostate, lung, breast or liver, histological slides and all possible combinations thereof. 